A Sequinned Beach Bag DIY

This DIY was inspired by a recent post over at The Things She Makes, turning a plain old canvas shopper into something much more golden and sparkly. I liked it so much, I dug out a canvas shopper I had already and my glue, and headed to the sewing shop for a sequin-themed shopping spree. The result was pretty similar to the original, but also inspired by the speech bubble noticeboard tutorial on the same blog - find it here! This was my version:

As I had also picked up plenty of blue strung sequins as well, I decided to make another bag to use them on. I had bought a dress in the Primark sale last year for a bargain £3, because I loved the cute boat print on it. It was clearly never going to be worn (I am certainly not a size 6, unfortunately!), so it has been in my pile of 'scrap fabrics' to use for ages. I dug it out to see what could be done with it...

Now, I could have just drawn around the above canvas bag on the fabric and had a nice rectangle. But being lazy, I looked at the elasticated waist and thought, hey, that's the top of a bag ready made right there!

So I chopped it off just above where the elastic was sewn in, turned the excess down on the inside and made a hem. This also meant that the sides of the bag were already done for me, being, as they were, the sides of the dress. All I had to do then was chop off the bottom to vaguely resemble a square and sew it up. Hurrah for laziness! Of course, it couldn't all go so perfectly - I wanted to recycle the straps of the dress as handles, but they were too short, so I made some handles out of the bit of fabric cut off the bottom... (even THAT had one side already sewn from the dress hem, so only seconds work!) I did manage to recycle the buttons and used them for where the handles were sewn to the bag.

Taking a grand total of 20 minutes, with precisely zero measuring, pinning or effort, I had a pretty decent gathered beach bag. OK, it isn't perfect - yes, it does feature 2 different colour threads because I didn't stop to check  - but it proves quick crafting is certainly possible, and sometimes lazy ideas even work! And who cares on the beach anyway?!

Then came the fun bit - I glued on my sparkly blue sequins in an anchor shape on the front, and.. ta-da!

Loving my 2 new bags... Now, what can I use the large amount of leftover sequins for?!

Golden Syrup Goodness

The last few weeks have been crazy busy getting all of my university work in - the deadline was today and I finally submitted everything! I'm not completely free now - I still have to write my 15,000 word dissertation over the summer. But I have a bit more time for all the things I've been wanting to do.

The first thing I did after handing in all my work today? Made a TREACLE TART!

I've never made one before and the last time I made pastry instead of buying it was when I was at school, so I'm pretty pleased it turned out so well.

I used a recipe from the BBC Food website here. It doesn't require many ingredients at all really.

For the pastry:
225g Plain Flour
110g Butter
1 Egg

Rub in the butter and flour and add the egg, and knead into dough. Blind bake in the oven first for 15 minutes in the tin.

For the filling:
450g Golden Syrup
85g Fresh Breadcrumbs
Pinch of Ground Ginger
2 tbsp Lemon Juice

Just chuck them all in a bowl and mix! Pour in and bake for 30 minutes.

The trickiest bit was the breadcrumbs - I spent ages trying to grate bread to make them until I realised I could put them in a blender. I think next time I might add something else to it to make it more interesting - maybe some walnuts. But for now, super sweet deliciousness is perfect, just what I needed after all the work!

Valentine's Gift Bag Tutorial

Happy Valentine's! Well, almost..

We don't really celebrate in a big way, but I do have a small gift to give, so I thought I'd make it a bit more personal by making a gift bag to give it in. There are LOADS of gift bag/box tutorials online, and mine here is pretty simple, so I've also included some of my favourites for something more fancy :)

First, find some pretty paper. Scrapbook paper or card would work well. I used some pretty hot air balloon pattern wrapping paper (he's a bit of a balloon fan) - luckily this paper is quite sturdy, this might be a bit trickier with thinner type wrapping paper though. 

Next, measure your gift onto the paper. Draw your pattern around this, so you get a larger size than your item. This is just a really simple template - 4 sides, slits along the bottom so you can glue it all together, and a tab at the side to join. I also folded over the top to make it look a bit more neat when it is together. 

This is what happens when you glue it all together... 

I pinched in the sides and punched a couple of holes at the top. After putting in the gift, tie a bow with string or ribbon.. and that's it! 

Well, I did say it was simple...

Here's my Valentine's offerings, with my gift being accompanied by a jar of treats - in this case LOTS of jellybeans. I hope he shares! 

And take a look at my DIY Fox Box tutorial for more gift-giving inspiration!

If these aren't your bag, here's a few of my favourite tutorials to give a go.

Awesome DIY gift box for Cookies and other treats - find the tutorial here

Recycled newspaper gift bags - find the tutorial here

A super colourful variety of the easy square origami boxes we have all made before - make it here

...Or how about these recycled cardboard pillow boxes? Perfect for small things - here

<3

Recent additions to my home..

This beauty of a vintage typewriter has joined my home, ready to be made use of for PostCircle and other correspondence. It was a gift from my Nan, who hunted one down for me after reading my blog (and got a bit of a bargain!). Still in absolutely perfect condition, it came in a rather lovely original tartan print case... original 1950s receipt still inside.

..As has THIS little beauty! (And helping me achieve one of my 25 goals..) Hello Pancake! My instagram will now probably only feature cat pictures for ever after. Cat-themed craft ideas, anyone?! (I'm already planning on making him a bow tie..)

Pancake training to be an acrobat..

..and a very rare sleepy moment!

I also got this Storyland Cross Stitch book recently, from What Delilah Did, which is really pretty, and not at all like most other cross stitch books I've seen, being much more modern and with cute patterns you'd be proud to put on the wall. I can't wait to make a few designs, starting with the frog prince (very Valentine's) and the unicorn. The book was also a bargain from The Book People, and has a little kit in it too!

My family and friends have all been treating me with all sorts of crafty little things recently, so I really have no excuse not to get making (except the essays, and the dissertation, and the tea selling...), although a crazy kitten who is determined to eat everything means crafting stuff has had to be hidden away for fear of things vanishing. I'm hoping to do some Valentine's DIYs before the big day.. any good ideas I should know about? 

The Birthday Resolutions

On Saturday I'll be a whole quarter of a century old. While I've achieved quite a lot this year, I'd like to do even more in the next. So here's my list of 26 things to do before I'm 26:

1. Read more. In 2012 I read 28 books. In 2013 I read at least 30 up until August, then university got in the way and now books seem more like a chore than enjoyment.

2. De-clutter. Not EVERYTHING 'might be useful one day'.

3. Host a dinner party and make a fancy dinner (with no help from my boyfriend, the Kitchen Dictator).

4. Knit an actual, complete SOMETHING.

5. Buy more things for myself. We've been on a tight budget for a while and although there is less need now, I'm in the habit of not buying any kind of treats and saving 'just in case'.

6. Go on an impulsive last-minute trip. Barcelona or Madrid maybe?!

7. Get my MA degree. YAY! Preferably with a less embarrassing graduation photo this time.

8. Stop eating so many Jaffa Cakes. Eat more healthy fruit instead.

9. Do all the touristy things in Manchester before I move from the city.

10. Make some crafty friends. Maybe join a craft club.

11. Get a CAT. Turn cat into Youtube celebrity.

12. Make more things for our home. I'd like to start a patchwork quilt.

13. Paint more. 

14. Go rock climbing again. I used to enjoy being utterly terrified climbing pretend mountains, and miss that it was something my boyfriend and I could do together.

15. Go on a rollercoaster for the first time. Survive.

16. Learn to sew something I would actually be proud to wear. With no faulty bits.

17. Take at least one photo everyday. Use it as a way to remember all the good little things that happen.

18. Learn to stop falling over when people make me jump. Just stop.

19. Open an Etsy shop. Hoping to do this soon!

20. Invent something.

21. Work on a business plan (perhaps related to the above?!), leave current job and be a successful business woman (or at least try..)

22. Move to an exciting NEW CITY. Destination currently unknown.

23. Make time to do some volunteer work for a charity.

24. Build something in miniature. Maybe a miniature 1920's cinema? Dolls houses are for grown ups too :)

25. Have a first ever BIRTHDAY PARTY. This one might have to wait till 26 now though!

26. Have more FUN and get stressed less.  

My top Etsy picks

Here's my little Etsy pick of perfect Christmas gifts.. there is just so many beautiful handmade things, it's hard to pick!

Doctor Who Tardis Christmas ... sweetgeek $3.5	Rabbit Brooch ... Vintage Mi... SilkPurseSowsE... $5	Vintage Locket Necklace Alys... verabel $68	Fantastic Mr Fox Quote Pillo... WhileLokiDream... $30
Grumpy Cat Sleep Mask Animal... lovelyart $20	Tuxedo Cat outfit- cat cloth... Catclothing $21	Personalized Deer Antler Wed... BacktoZero $25	Faux Taxidermy Deer Head wal... mahzerandvee $92
Lionel Richie teapot hand dr... MrTeacup $58	Bay armchair - winter namedesignstud... $1500	Make Your Own Teacup Candle ... LavenderHouseD... $12	Modern Fawn Bamboo Wall Cloc... decoylab $74
Christmas Stocking Woodland ... echoshop $45	Nordic Boho Indie Pillow Cov... CoconutLime77 $18	USB Typewriter Conversion Ki... usbtypewriter $84	Hot Air Balloon Kit - Circus CraftSchmaft $65

I love everything here, I can't decide what I'd want most! The vintage locket (3) is so colourful, as is the motivational pillow (14). And yes, I am planning to dress up my cat in a tuxedo (6). Because that's what Christmas is for. 

The last 2 are specially for my lovely boyfriend, as I know he would certainly hate that amazing blue armchair and not let me near it :( I don't own a vintage typewriter (yet), but I'm pretty sure the novelty of attaching it to a tablet is the only thing that would ever convince him to let me buy one. And the last one.. he loves hot air balloons.. these would look super cute and colourful hanging from the ceiling! 

What are your Etsy recommendations? :)

Crafty Creatives and Christmas

So this week my Crafty Creatives Christmas box arrived.. and there was so much packed into this little box! 3 kits (to make fancy beaded baubles, honey lip scrub and felt tree decorations), as well as ribbon, wooden rings for wreaths, all sorts of different beads and decorations, gift boxes and craft papers and card blanks..

Some of my favourite things inside - wooden snowflakes (these just need a bit of thread on them and they can hang on the tree), tiny silver snowflake charms and JINGLE BELLS! There was also some cute chunky wooden tree beads, some of which I've already used to make...

... A Christmas wreath! Just a mini one so far, but it was fun to make and now I want to make a much bigger one for the front door. Ahh, so excited for putting the tree and decorations up!

I was very impressed with the special edition Crafty Creatives box, certainly worth the slightly higher price this time. I'm going to have a go making the lip scrubs next :)